Volume meter and sampler



March 16, 1943.

A. ANDLAUER VOLUME METER AND SAMPLER.

V 5 sheets-,sheet 1 Filed 0013.10. 1941 Inventor N a@ g O BJ' u Atlw'ulqy March 16, 1943. A'. ANDLAUER l VOLUME METERV AND SAMPLER Filed QCt. 10, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor 1555674547 Za zcer March-16, 1943;

A. A'NDLAUER VOLUME METER AND SAMPLER Filed Oct. 1:0', 19`41 3 Sheets--Sheet 5 Inventor Attorney Patented Mar. 16, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VOLUME METER AND SAMPLER Albert Andlaer, Wilmington, nel. `Application october 1o, 1941,7seria1N0. 414,513 (o1. 73-21) 4 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in volume measuring apparatus and more particularly toa machine especially adapted for use in conjunction with thelfeed mechanisms of mills. s v i `The principal object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which will efciently measure thequantity of feed and wherein mixing means is included for always maintaining the material in fluent condition.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a volume meter from which samples can be conveniently taken from time to time to determine the nature and condition of the material being handled.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a front elevational View of the machine.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the right side of the machine.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view through the machine.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that numeral 5 denotes a case, the upper portion of which is reduced and extends upwardly to define an inlet neck 6 which connects in any suitable manner to a feed hopper 'I of conventional design.

The upper portion of the front wall of the case i 5 is curved and has an inspection door 8 therein.

Extending from a point well up inthe neck 5, an inclined chute 9 terminates at its lower edgejust above a corrugated drum I located on a shaft II, one end of which extends through one side of the case and is equipped with a sprocket wheel I2.

An agitator I3 carried by a, shaft I4 islocated in the space of the neck 6 above the chute 9` and one endv of this shaft I4 extends through one side wall `of the case 5 and is equipped with a sprocket wheel I4a. A sprocket chain I6 is trained over the sprocket wheels I2 and Ma. Y

A vertically slidable baille plate II is movable through a slot in the upper portion of the front wall of the case 5, the upper portion of this plate Il being provided with a lug I8 having a threaded opening for receiving an adjusting screw I9, this adjusting screw I9 being swivelled through a lip 20 on the upper portion of the neck 6. A head 2| is provided for the upper end of the adjusting screw I9. As canbe seen in Figure 1,

' As can be seen in Figure '3, the feed is directly onto the drum I0 between the lower endof `the chute 9 and the lower end of the baiile I'I.

As is obvious, a number of these meters can be arranged in a line and over a trough 24 which has a distributing conveyor 25 therein.

Each meter has a test box 26 which is suitably secured in place under the forward portion of the case 5. A cleat 2l extends upwardly from the bottom of the case 5 between the test box 26 and the trough 24 and has a swingable gate 28 just above the same. This gate 28 is carried by the shaft 29, one end of which extends through one side of the case 5 and is equipped with an arm 3U which is connected by a pivotal link 3| to a hand lever 32 pivotally mounted on a bracket 33 at the front side of the case 5.

Obviously, when it is desired to make a test of the material passing through the meter so that proper adjustment can be made if necessary, th'e hand lever 32 is moved inwardly which, of course, will throw the gate 28 to the dotted line position shown in Figure 3, permitting the material to pass into the test box 26 where it can be inspected, and if found satisfactory, the lever 32 can be moved outwardly resulting in the positioning of the gate 28 in a position preventing further material entering the test box 26.

Numeral 34 is the power shaft which may be used for a number of meters constructed in accordance with the above description and for each of these meters a sprocket wheel 35 is provided on the drive shaft 34 and rotatable relative thereto. Extending from the sprocket wheel 35 and to the sprocket wheel I2 on the shaft Ii of the meter is a sprocket chain 36. i'he drive shaft 34 is provided with a splined and toothed collar 31 which when in mesh with a toothed collar 38 connected with the sprocket wheel 35 through a bearing 39 will connect the drive shaft 34 with the sprocket wheel 35 for the operation of the meter. However, by shifting the pivotal lever 40 connected to collar 3l, the collar 31 can be removed from the collar 38 to the end that the machine will cease operation.

In the operation of the machine, the supply enters the top of the machine through the neck 6 where it is agitated by the agitator I3 and broken up if lumpy and slides down the chute 9 onto the drum I0. The drum which is rotating again agitates the feed, the drum throwing the feed against the gate 28 on which it slides downwardly into the trough 24, should of course the gate 2S be in position shown in Figure 3. If the gate is in the opposite position as shown in broken lines in Figure 3, of course, the feed will be diverted into the test box 26.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understod that numerous changesin the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the claimed as new is:

1'. A feed meter of the character described comprising a case, an inlet at the top of the case,

invention, what is an agitator in the inlet, an oVershot feed moving drum rotatably mounted in t-heI case, a conveyorv trough underlying the case and having communication with the interior' thereof, a test box located adjacent the trough, and agate for diverting feed from said drumeither into the trough or the test box.

2. A feed meter of the character described comprising a case, an inlet at the top of the case, an agitator in the inlet, a feed moving drum rotatably mounted 'in the case, a conveyor trough underlying the case and having communication with the interior thereof, a test box located adjacent the trough, and a gate for diverting feed from said drum either into the trough or the test box, and an adjustable baffle for regulating the flow of feed onto the drum.

3. A feed meter of the character described comprising a case, an inlet at the top of the case,

an agitator in the inlet, a feed moving drum rotatably mounted in the case, a conveyor trough underlying the case andy having communication with the interior thereof, a test box located adjacent the trough, and a gate for diverting feed from said drum either into the trough or the test box, and' an adjustable baflie for regulating the flow of feed onto the drum, and a gauge for determining the internal position of the baile.

4. A* feed meter of the character described comprising a case, an inlet at the top of the case, an agitator in the inlet, an overshot feed moving drum rotatably mounted in the case, a conveyor trough'underlyingthecase and having communication with-theinterior thereof, a test boxlocated adjacent the-trough, and a gate for di- Verting feed from said drum either into the trough Vor the test box, and an inspection door for the case whereby the drum can be inspected.

ALBERT ANDLAUER. 

